Post by Jack Loomes on Aug 26, 2015 10:41:28 GMT

A superior example of an extremely rare type, the silver pommel a fully-modeled horse's head, struck on the reverse with a Georgian mark. The wooden grip covered in red silk velvet, and embellished with elaborate silver studs interspersed between two profiled silver bands struck on the obverse with an Imperial Russian 84 silvermark. The iron guard inlaid overall with fine and elaborate flowering vines in silver, characteristic of Tbilisi work, and connected to the pommel by a fine silver chain with captured filigreed bead. The long, shallowly-curved blade of the finest Persian workmanship, forged of Kara Taban black wootz damascus steel with exceedingly complex and high-contrast pattern. At the right forte are two chiseled cartouches, in the upper ABBAS, SERVANT OF THE RULER OF THE LAND, in the lower, WORK OF ASSAD ALLAH 1278 A.H. [1861 C.E.] In its red silk velvet-covered wooden scabbard, with paired suspension bands and chape of silver-inlaid iron en suite with the hilt, and seamed with silvered galloon. Mid-19th century. Blade with light rubbing and nicks.

For an example likely the work of the same shop, see V.A. Dmitriev, et al, Edged Weapon in the Collection of the Russian Museum of Ethnography (1998: St. Petersburg. Fiodorov) p. 149.